A firm in the construction industry has gone into administration, endangering over 400 jobs. Caldwell Construction Limited, established in 2007, has enlisted administrators from PKF Littlejohn Advisory. The company, specializing in groundworks and civil engineering, operates from offices in Stoke-on-Trent and Warrington, Cheshire.
Paul Smith, a Partner at PKF Littlejohn Advisory UK LLP, highlighted the tough trading environment in the construction sector, citing rising costs, project delays, and overall market instability over recent years. Despite a reported turnover of £58.4 million last year, Caldwell’s operating profit remained below £1 million. Smith noted that recent weeks had intensified financial pressures on Caldwell, straining cashflow and operations.
Following extensive collaboration between PKF Littlejohn Advisory’s Manchester and Leeds teams and Caldwell’s management to explore solutions, it was deemed unfeasible to sustain the company outside insolvency proceedings. Joint Administrator Oliver Collinge stated that Caldwell’s directors made the difficult choice to place the firm into administration, shifting focus to employee and stakeholder support while evaluating the business’s status and assets.
In a separate incident, Consumer Energy Solutions, a company based in south Wales, also entered administration this month, impacting nearly 300 employees. The situation, unrelated to Caldwell’s collapse, affected staff at sites in Swansea and Rhondda Cynon Taf. An announcement on the Consumer Energy Solutions website confirmed the cessation of trading with immediate effect.
Staff members, informed of job risks through a virtual call just before Christmas, expressed distress and uncertainty. The company also disclosed its inability to fulfill pending customer work. The restructuring and job cuts were attributed to the conclusion of the UK Government-backed Energy Company Obligation 4 scheme operated by Consumer Energy Solutions, set to conclude this year.
Administrators James Saunders and Michael Lennon of KR8 Advisory Limited took charge of Consumer Energy Solutions on January 9, 2026, following the company’s closure. The administration solely pertains to Consumer Energy Solutions Limited and not to other entities within the City Energy Group.